Feed box



FEED BOX Filed March l5. 1926 Ja L Z6 j Patented ug. 9, 1927.

UNITE' s rArr.

NILs o. NILssoN, or WORCESTER, M AssAoHusnT'rs.

FEED BOX.

Application filed March 16. 1926. Serial No. 95,053.'y

This invention relates to a device for feedopen feeder for poultry and animals. The

principal objects of the invention are to provide an arrangement in which the parts are readily detachable from each other for cleaning and other purposes; to provide a construction in which the base itself supports the doors by which the feeding device is closed and constitutes a support and guide for the detachable feeding hopper; to provide a .construction in which the cover can be used as a base if desired to permit of the feeding of small chicks and the like; and to provide a construction of this character which will be inexpensive to build and have few parts likely to get out of order.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the feed box shown open as it is in use;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same showing one side open and the other side closed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail of construction; and

Fig. 4 is Aa perspective view showing the device used with the cover as a base.

The device consists of. three sheet metal parts, a base 10, a hopper 11, and a cover 12. The base 10 preferably is of rectangular form with a bottom, sides and ends all sealed at the oints so that it will hold either meal or water as may be desired. At the top it is provided with two longitudinal horizontal flanges land just outside of these on hinges 14 are pivoted opposite doors 15. These have integral hooks 16 for manipulating them and they can be turned from the open position shown at the right in Fig. 2 to the 'closed position shown at the left in that figure. In the former case, the device is open for feeding purposes and the latter is closed. The ledges 13 constitute the limits for the doors 15 in closed position. These ledges are cut off at their ends to form spaces beyond them for a purpose that will be described. Y

The second element, the hopper `11, is of ordinary hopper form made of sheet metal comprising a chamber 17 above for holding the meal or other grain, either whole or Ground, and it is provided with a central disharge chute 18 which extends down below.

has two vertical-endsV 19 ofsubstantially fla-t pieces of metal constituting the ends of the hopper and the discharge chute. When assembled with the base, these end pieces 19 extend down beyond the ends of the flanges 13 and inside the ends of the base so that the bottoms of these end pieces are supported on the bottom of the base and it is prevented from swaying back and forth. In this way, the hopper portion of the device is held rigidly in the base and projects upl from it so as to feed the material down into'the bottom of the base. It will be noticed that the chute 1S extends away down below the top of the base part of the apparatus so that the material will be deposited near the center and will not naturally spread around. These parts are made by ordinary sheet metal working methods.

The end wall of the base 10 would be open to the weather if the end 19 of the hopper extended straight up from it and for that reason I have shown in Fig. 3 an offset in each of the end walls 19 to protect the base from the entrance of water -by draining down the end surface. I-Iere it' is shown clearly that the bottom of the end piece 19 rests on the bottom of the base 10 asstated above. v v

The third member of the combination is the cover 12. This acts in Figs. 1 andy 2 merely as ay cover, but in Fig. 4t it is turned bottom side up, the base 10 is eliminated, and this coverserves as the base. This is particularly valuable in the feedingof small chicksbecause they can hop over the side walls and they cannot waste much of the vfeed because of the walls of the cover which protect it. If wet feeding is desired, a little water can be placed in the bottom of the base or cover as the case may be.

This, it will be seen, is a simple, practical, and inexpensive device for the purpose desired. It can be built without the base 10 if it is to be used for chicks or if the buyer vwishes to save the cost of that part,.but

when the three parts are assembled, the cover protects it from the rains so that it can be used outdoors. The feed is by gravity alone and therefore it can be considered to be automatic. y

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention, tI am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claim. Therefore I do not- Wish to he limited to uil the details of construction hei-ein shown and do# scribed, but what I do claim ist- A feeder of the dass desciihod comprising' a hase, a hopper having u chamber for the grain, a Chute having two end Walls extending downward and engaging the ende of the base to support the hopper firmly,

and e cover for the open top of :mid chamber, sind cover having Vertical end and Side Walls fitting' hot-h the bottom und the top of the hoppei'eo as to Vbe capable of being inverted and replacing' the hase as u Support feithe hoppei' for the purpose described.

In testimony Wheieo't l have hereunto :ifxed my signature.

NILS O. NILSSON. 

